Well, Ive survived my first week - but only just - some of it has been pretty harrowing, but others bits of it have been great fun. Im settling in a bit more now and think I am getting gradually acclimatised as I was really struggling with the weather to start with. Ive been bitten to death, probably been infected with headlice, taken my life in my hands twice a day cycling to work, nearly had my watch stolen by some of the little darlings in my class and been in tears at the village, but apart from that everything's good :). As you all know first day in school was a bit of a culture shock and I thought the second day was going better until I spotted some 'visitors'in the hair of someone I had just been carrying - mentioned it to one of the long term volunteers, who just said, 'yes, most of them have it - just take her over to the medical centre and get her de-loused'- oh okay then...:( Felt pretty bad, as everyone else here just accepts this as normal, but it freaked me out a bit as I have a real beastie phobia, but Im trying to overcome it. Came back from the medical centre and one of my other kids cuddled into me saying 'I love you teecha'....I thought oh, how cute, until I realised his ''mate'' was trying to undo my watch from my other arm - now, I would like to think it was a coincidence as surely 5-6 year olds couldn't plan a scam like that or could they....!? I also caught them dealing out'çhips'with the lego type stuff we use for making shapes, so who knows !? I have gotten to know some of other 'golden oldie' volunteers a bit better now'. They mostly work in the outreach centre, where they go into the villages and support those in the most desperate need. They take case histories and a decision is made on who will get support from New Hope - this is usually rice, clothes for the kids, clean bedding, trying to get the kids into schools and trying to get a sponsor for them to allow them to send their kids to school fulltime. Its hard to refuse these kids when they are selling you something for a dollar but the more money they make for their parents, the less chance there is of them being allowed to go to school and the cycle of poverty will just continue on. Some of the stories are pretty harrowing and upsetting, but the Outreach volunteers are so dedicated, they are mostly nurses from Australia and some of them come around twice a year. A couple of guys come out regularly too and they help putting on new roofs n the huts, drainage etc. Yesterday, was my trip to the village where our kids come from - Mondul 3. Its a shanty town really and was previously an army base. It was great as first as I spotted a number of my kids from my class and they all came running over, jumping on the tuk tuk and generally having a laugh. They took their baby brothers and sisters over so it was fun BUT then I started to look around and into the huts. Nothing could prepare me for the walk around the village and I cant even begin to describe how dirty and unhygenic it was, food lying everywhere, no sanitation, some have running water, most dont - no toilets - guess you can imagine the rest. A part of me wanted to leave, but I couldnt as thats what I came for really. I held back the tears though as the kids are so happy, you cant be sad for long and you just have to not think too deeply about it. We got back to New Hope and the Director had some prospective sponsors in - he put on the tape which shows some of the work that we do here and some of the stories of the people we have helped and their problems - the accompanying music was Imagine by John Lennon, so family members will know what that would do to me...:( I had to toughen up as I was back in class in a few minutes, so no time for tears and people who feel sorry for themselves! Most of my classes are kindergarten and Im getting to know the kids now, which is great. Some are really good with numbers but struggle with the English so Im getting to know those who need extra help. We have kids of around 10 in kindergarten as they havent had any schooling at all until New Hope got them into a programme, so although I think that would be tough for our kinds, they dont seem to mind. My last class of the day is English Pronunciation, with a group of teenagers, so some of them are learning to speak Engish wie a broad Doric accent...its really funny as the other volunteers in my class are Kiwis so we totally confuse the kids with our accents and pronunication of the words! I love them though, they are great and we have such a laugh at their attempts at English and my attempts at Khymer are even funnier! The days are really full on - we all cycle together in a big group and it takes around 25 minutes - getting used to it now. Around 10% of the journey isr really rough track roads and my cellulite is fairly getting a jiggle around there thats for sure!:) We are there by 8 and home by 630 - feel pretty knackered and have resisted the Friday night out with the young volunteers in favour of dinner and a few drinks with the golden oldies - I am definitely feeling my age here! We are off to Phnom Penh tomorrow for the Killing Fields and S21, so guess that will be another emotional day - its no wonder we need a strong G&T at the end of the day - speak soon - my G&T is awaiting me...!!xxxxxxx